V32-19

Question

Up until the mid-19th century, most Irish immigrants in America were members of the Protestant middle class. When the Great Potato Famine hit Ireland in 1845, close to 1 million poor and uneducated Irish Catholics began pouring into America to escape starvation. Despised for their alien religious beliefs and unfamiliar accents by the American Protestant majority, the immigrants had trouble finding even menial jobs. When Irish Americans in the country's cities took to the streets on St. Patrick's Day to celebrate their heritage, newspapers portrayed them in cartoons as drunk, violent monkeys.
 
 The American Irish soon began to realize, however, that their large and growing numbers endowed them with a political power that had yet to be exploited. They started to organize, and their voting block, known as the "green machine," became an important swing vote for political hopefuls. Suddenly, annual St. Patrick's Day parades became a show of strength for Irish Americans, as well as a must-attend event for a slew of political candidates. In 1948, President Harry S. Truman attended New York City 's St. Patrick's Day parade, a proud moment for the many Irish Americans whose ancestors had to fight stereotypes and racial prejudice to find acceptance in the New World.

What is the primary purpose of the passage?

A. Document the history of St. Patrick's Day in the modern world 
B. Trace the origins of the "green machine" in US political history 
C. Explain the situation of Irish immigrants in America after the mid 19th century 
D. Effects of the racial prejudices towards the Irish in mid 19th century America 
E. Political candidates and their approach to dealing with Irish immigrants

souvik101990 · Answer

Official Solution:

Up until the mid-19th century, most Irish immigrants in America were members of the Protestant middle class. When the Great Potato Famine hit Ireland in 1845, close to 1 million poor and uneducated Irish Catholics began pouring into America to escape starvation. Despised for their alien religious beliefs and unfamiliar accents by the American Protestant majority, the immigrants had trouble finding even menial jobs. When Irish Americans in the country's cities took to the streets on St. Patrick's Day to celebrate their heritage, newspapers portrayed them in cartoons as drunk, violent monkeys.
 
 The American Irish soon began to realize, however, that their large and growing numbers endowed them with a political power that had yet to be exploited. They started to organize, and their voting block, known as the "green machine," became an important swing vote for political hopefuls. Suddenly, annual St. Patrick's Day parades became a show of strength for Irish Americans, as well as a must-attend event for a slew of political candidates. In 1948, President Harry S. Truman attended New York City 's St. Patrick's Day parade, a proud moment for the many Irish Americans whose ancestors had to fight stereotypes and racial prejudice to find acceptance in the New World. 
  
 What is the primary purpose of the passage?

A. Document the history of St. Patrick's Day in the modern world 
B. Trace the origins of the "green machine" in US political history 
C. Explain the situation of Irish immigrants in America after the mid 19th century 
D. Effects of the racial prejudices towards the Irish in mid 19th century America 
E. Political candidates and their approach to dealing with Irish immigrants

A. Document the history of St. Patrick's Day in the modern world:
 Incorrect because the passage does not focus on the history of St. Patrick's Day itself. Instead, it uses the holiday as a context to discuss the broader social and political developments among Irish Americans. The holiday is mentioned as part of the narrative but isn&rsquo;t the central theme.
 
B. Trace the origins of the "green machine" in US political history: 
 Incorrect - too narrow scope. The passage mentions the formation of the "green machine" as a significant voting bloc, but it does not go into a detailed history or tracing of its origins. The term is used to illustrate the political mobilization of the Irish community, rather than serving as the primary focus of the text.
 
C. Explain the situation of Irish immigrants in America after the mid 19th century
 The passage begins by describing the severe hardships faced by Irish immigrants, including widespread prejudice and economic struggles, upon their arrival due to the Great Potato Famine. It then transitions into discussing how these immigrants gradually leveraged their growing numbers for political influence, which is highlighted by their organization into a voting bloc known as the "green machine" and the subsequent recognition of their value by political figures. This evolution from marginalized group to powerful political entity is the core focus of the passage: detailing the progression of Irish immigrants in American society.
 
D. Effects of the racial prejudices towards the Irish in mid 19th century America:
 Incorrect - too narrow scope. The focus of the passage is much more broad than just racial prejudices. The passage actually covers Irish immigrants' social and political adaptation and empowerment, not just the effects of discrimination.
 
E. Political candidates and their approach to dealing with Irish immigrants: 
 Incorrect - too narrow scope. The passage does not address specifics such as strategies or approaches political candidates used with Irish immigrants. Instead, the passage merely talks about politicians' participation in St. Patrick&rsquo;s Day parades as a reflection of the Irish's growing political power, not how they were dealing with them.

Answer: C

Mona2019 · Answer

Hi,

The 1st paragraph talks about time till mid 19th century, is what I understand. But C option talks about time after mid 19th century, which I think only related to second paragraph.

So how can C be the correct answer, can anyone help please?

Thanks in advance.

globaldesi · Answer

somehow the primary purpose of the passage is to trace the struggle and changes in Irish situation. C only deals with 19th century

XyLan · Answer

What you have inferred is absolutely correct. 
 The main purpose of the passage is to highlight the happening and the rise of the status of Irish immigrants in America when they started arriving   in 1845 . 
However, the answer to your query lies in the understanding of the term:   after the mid 19th century.

1st Century: '00 - '01 - The years starting from 0th year to 100th year.
21st Century: Mon, 1 Jan, 2001 – Fri, 31 Dec, 2100 - The years starting from 2001st year to 2100th year. 
Analogically, 19th Century - The years starting from 1800th year to 1900th year.

The key here is to understand the accountable years are  in the range of 100 less  than the century mentioned. 
Thus, the term  after the mid 19th century.  implies   around the year 1845

Wiki:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/21st_century

Pratyushtiwari07 · Answer

I think this is a  poor-quality  question and the explanation isn't clear enough, please elaborate. How come C is the correct answer while in whole passage it comes out that evaluation of IRISH community is around St. Patrick's day

ArunBishnoi · Answer

Thus, the term  after the mid 19th century.  implies   around the year 1845  
>>> how can it be generalised. "after the mid 19th century " cannot be linked to 1845. that is what lead to negation of this option

ZahraB · Answer

I don't understand why C is the right answer and not B. Can someone please explain? (Also, I dont understand how the term "after the mid 19th century" implies around the year 1845).

yogeshtomar · Answer

why not D.
As last paragraph mentions that Irish ancestors had to fight racial discrimination and that was when they started migrating to Ameria i.e 1845 (Mid 19th century)

Please explain

bb · Answer

Thank you for the question and sorry for the long wait in addressing it. I have expanded the explanation. 
B is too narrow in scope. The passage mentions the formation of the "green machine" as a significant voting bloc, but it does not go into a detailed history or tracing of its origins. The term is used to illustrate the political mobilization of the Irish community, rather than serving as the primary focus of the text. The passage is not focusing on the Green machine.

In terms of your other question about 1845, the passage starts out with " Up until the mid-19th century, most Irish immigrants in America were members of the Protestant middle class. When the Great Potato Famine hit Ireland in 1845, close to 1 million poor and uneducated Irish .... " 
I feel the mid 19th century would be fairly precise in this regard. History tends to speak loosely about dates and periods in my experience.

bb · Answer

D. is talking about racial prejudices in America, not expanding to the Ireland where they had to fight prejudices as well. I hope this helps. Let me know if further questions. I have also expanded the explanation further.

V32-19

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards